The Point
Aug. 29, 2008
Issue No. 1
Fitchburg State College's student newspaper
FSC FILE PHOTO
Orientation leaders put team spirit, friendship and fun on the agenda as a new semester begins.
New here? Follow the leaders
By Jacob Hart
Getting to know your roommates,
going out to your first college party, or
talking to that really cute girl or guy may
be the on the list of priorities to begin
your college experience, but don't miss
out getting to know your orientation
leaders.
Your first experiences with them may
feel like a trip back to the past when Ms.
Riley, your second-grade teacher, made
you play awkward ice breakers. But once
you get to know them, you can really
learn a lot from them - especially since
most of them are considered to be leaders
at Fitchburg State College.
"Orientation is a great opportunity
to meet many different people and start
friendships that may last you years," said
Christopher Ashley, who served as an
orientation leader in Fall 2007.
FSC FILE PHOTO
Making friends is easy at orientation.
It also offers a great opportunity for
the upper classmen who take a highly
involved role in the campus to find other
people who may share their own values.
This year's orientation takes place
Aug. 31 -Sept. 2, and follows the theme
"Citizenship in the World."
While a lot of college freshman tend
to feel nervous about this new phase of
life, orientation can speed up the process
of meeting new friends and getting used
to new surroundings.
"Orientation is truly one of the best
ways to meet people and find people to
hang out with," said Nicoletta Amato,
one of this year's orientation leaders.
Amato admits that one of the reasons
she is an orientation leader is because it
looks really good on a resume. But, she
said, the main reason is that she loves the
experience.
Ashley agreed, saying, "I [became] an
orientation leader to give back to the
Continued on Page 3
ConnectEd:
good call
By Tim McCarthy
"I want to tell you all that while you
were sitting here, you were locked in,"
Fitchburg State College President Robert
V. Antonucci informed incoming freshman
and their parents who had come to campus
for a summer orientation session on June
10.
He explained that FSC had gone into an
emergency, campus-wide lockdown while
an armed-robbery suspect was apprehended
in one of the Highland Avenue townhous-
es.
Charges against the suspect - a Fitch-
burg State College student - were for-
mally dismissed
on Aug. 19 in
Fitchburg Dis-
trict Court, after
a grand jury did
not find enough
evidence to
indict him.
At the time,
however, the
events of the
day provided
an excellent test
of FSC's Con-
nectEd emergen-
cy-alert system,
which passed with flying colors.
Now mandatory for both incoming and
returning students, the ConnectEd system
calls home, cell and residence-hall phones
to inform students, faculty and staff of
important announcements. The system has
been used at FSC for the past two to three
years, but the events of June 10 were the
first time the system was used in a "live"
emergency situation.
"I think everything went as planned and
prepared," said Campus Police Chief James
Hamel. "The system did what it needed to
do. Both of us, the Campus Police and the
local authorities,
Continued on Page 2
ConnectEd puts
information right
in students' hands.
FSC plows ahead
with improvements
By Mike Prescott
It is becoming an annual tra-
dition of sorts here at Fitchburg
State College: Construction proj-
ects are being hastily completed
as students make their way to
campus for the fall semester.
While the construction may
cause some temporary inconve-
nience, it is intended to bring
about lasting improvements to the
quality of life - and study - on
campus.
"It has been another very busy
summer and hopefully students
and staff will notice a number
of improvements," said Jay Bry,
FSC's assistant vice president of
administration.
One of the most visible projects
involves a series of renovations to
the Hammond Campus Center.
The dining room near the Com-
muter Cafe has been revamped,
with new carpeting, wall paint,
and interior finishes.
To top it off, new furniture is
Continued on Page 2
Staff photo by Mike Prescott
Construction equipment has been part of the landscape all summer long, as Fitchburg State College
builds for the future.
2 ~ August 29, 2008
THE POINT
Freshmen face major issues
By Steve Sullivan
When you finish high school, your
options are pretty clear-cut: You'll either
go to college, learn a trade, get a job that
requires no skill, or hang around in your
parents' basement waiting for the "Ameri-
can Idol" tryouts to come to Boston.
If you choose college, the questions
get harder. There's one, in particular, that
looms over the heads of most college stu-
dents: "What am I going to do with this
degree when I finish?"
As many students will tell you, it's too
important a decision to rush.
"Take your time when you are choosing
your major," advised Michael Doherty, a
business-administration student at Fitch-
burg State College. "Go into your first
couple of semesters undecided, try out a
couple of areas and see what fits you best.
"Myself, I found business to be the
perfect fit; I am a people person, can work
well with numbers and have a good sense
for what will make money."
Some majors will steer you down a
straight path from the moment you enter
into them.
Majors such as nursing or education will
have you on such a strict schedule that you
won't even have time to question whether
or not they are right for you.
And since these careers are in high
demand, you are most likely to have a job
waiting for you when you graduate.
But what if you want to go down the
creative path?
Jamie Cumming, an FSC film major
set to graduate in May 2009, said that will
require you to stand out from the crowd.
FSC FILE PHOTO
Students who take time to consider their interests and abilities can find the major that's right for them.
"Film can be a great major and possibly
the most fun you can have at school," she
said.
"But you'd better be paying attention in
class and actually learning the ins and outs
of the industry, because the only way you
are going to make money is if you are one
of the best. Nobody is going to want to hire
a mediocre cameraman."
So there you have it - some advice from
people who have already been through it,
felt the confusion and asked the questions
you may be wondering about right now.
If it all starts to seem overwhelming,
though, you can find expert help right on
campus. The Academic Advising Center's
"Focus on the Future" program in available
for students who want to make the right
choices about their majors and careers.
Services include career-interest inven-
tories, networking workshops and help in
resume preparation. The Career Services
Center is located on the second floor of the
Hammond building, and can be reached by
calling 665-3151.
Just remember, you are only in college
for a small chunk of your life, but what you
do here shapes and molds what the rest of
your life will become.
A final piece of advice: Have as much
fun as you can and make the most out of
your experience.
Stepping forward
Continued from Page 1
expected to arrive mid-semes-
ter.
On the G-Level of the Campus
Center, one of the most notice-
able changes has been made,
and students are going to walk
all over it.
"The most dramatic change in
the building is the refurbishment
of the quarry tile floor, including
the main stairwell," Bry said.
The floors and stairs were
systematically cordoned off dur-
ing July and August to complete
the work, and Bry said the results
speak for themselves.
"We have had faculty and
staff comment that they look bet-
ter than they did, even when they
were new," Bry said.
Though the Campus Center
work will be the most visible,
parking changes will likely be
the most talked-about among
students.
Increased surveillance and
security have been the focus
for Weston, North 1 through 3,
Green 1, and McKay Rear and
Lower lots, all of which have
received (or will be receiving)
new lighting, cameras, and/or
call boxes this fall.
One new lot has been opened,
Green 2, as a result of the col-
lege's ongoing local property
acquisition. The lot will have a
gravel surface this fall, with an
anticipated conversion to pave-
ment in the spring.
North 4 (across from the Rec-
reation Center), which has been a
gravel lot for several semesters,
is being upgraded to pavement;
however, it is also the location of
the new Campus Police station.
As a result, the lot will likely
remain closed this fall as con-
struction continues on the Police
Station.
North 3 has been expanded,
largely as a result of adjoining
properly acquisitions by the col-
lege; it is now called Congress
Lot. In addition, Weston has been
reconfigured to a single entry,
allowing for a small increase in
available spaces.
"All lots are expected to be
back on line for use at the start of
the semester, even while some of
the work continues," Bry said.
Fitchburg State College is, of
course, a learning institution, so
several improvements have also
been made to the actual class-
room facilities around campus.
Work has begun in the Con-
Ion Building, including the relo-
cation of Industrial Technology
labs, in preparation of a several-
phase plan of improvements to
the building. Several second-
floor classrooms have received
makeovers, and by semester's
end, they will also receive new
"standard issue" tables and roll-
Staff photo by Mike Prescott
Gleaming tile floors are among the improvements recently made
on campus.
ing chairs to replace existing
tablet-arm chairs, allowing more
comfort and space for laptops
and books.
The admissions office will
also soon have a new home,
as construction continues in the
Anthony Building on an expand-
ed and more welcoming space,
formerly occupied by the grounds
crew. Though all of the projects
will make FSC more attractive
to both current and prospective
students, some glitches have
occurred. "With many renova-
tions, there are always unexpect-
ed susprises, and in some cases
delays," Bry said.
The most significant delay?
The renovation of Percival Hall,
which includes new bathrooms
and Behavioral Science labs.
Students in Percival Hall need-
ing restroom facilities will be
directed to the nearby Thomp-
son and Anthony buildings until
bathrooms are re-opened, likely
at the end of September.
College
has a lock
on safety
Continued from Page 1
have the same training with the
system, so everything fell into
place."
He did note that while the
system has so far been success-
ful, there are still several kinks to
iron out.
"We're looking to upgrade call
boxes on campus to deliver mes-
sages cross-campus," he said.
He also noted that the system
currently has no way of notify-
ing visitors to campus of possible
threats.
Considering the number of
guests on campus that day, Hamel
said, "We were fortunate that
everyone was in the Hammond
Building."
Many of the visitors said they
were pleased to see the situation
handled in a timely and profes-
sional manner.
"The key thing is the security
of the college community," Anto-
nucci said. "That's the bottom
line."
THE POINT
August 29, 2008- 3
FSC FILE PHOTO
A visit to the bookstore can result in sticker shock, as students check out the prices on required texts.
Textbooks cost a bundle
By Chelsey Kilgour
With rising prices at colleges
everywhere, students are strug-
gling to pay for textbooks. Each
semester students go to the col-
lege bookstore to get their dreaded
book list and are usually cringing
at the prices. According to the
College Board, the average stu-
dent pays around S900 per year
for books.
"The textbook prices are out-
rageous; you pay thousands of
dollars in tuition and then end up
spending hundreds on textbooks,"
says Fitchburg State College stu-
dent Maggie Horgan.
So why are textbook prices
sky high? One reason may be that
the companies that publish the
textbooks produce new editions of
each textbook each year, causing
students to have to buy brand-new
books.
Companies also add extras,
such as tutorial CD-ROMs, that
have to be sold along with the
books, causing the price of the
whole package to be higher.
This process is called bun-
dling, and it's gotten the attention
of lawmakers across the coun-
"You pay thousands
of dollars in tuition
and then end up
spending hundreds
on textbooks. "
- Maggie Horgan
try. Several states have passed, or
are considering, legislation such
as the College Textbook Trans-
parency Act. This would require
publishers to also make avail-
able "unbundled" versions of the
books, minus expensive add-ons
such as CD-ROMS.
Also, publishers would be
required to provide book prices in
marketing materials so professors
can choose less expensive books.
In the meantime, with prices on
the rise each year, students have
been finding ways to cut costs.
Many students advertise books
on campus and sell them to other
students at cheaper prices. You can
also go online and buy used books
from college students through-
out the country. Websites such
as Amazon, Half.com, ecampus.
com, and collegeswap.com allow
students to create accounts for
free and post their used textbooks
online for other students to pur-
chase.
"I always check online as soon
as I find out what my textbooks
are," Horgan said. "I have found
expensive books for as cheap as
S8.
The only downside to getting
books for less online is having
them come in on time and, with
the ever-changing new editions,
finding the right book.
"The college bookstore prices
are so expensive compared to
some of the online prices that col-
leges are going to end up losing
money," said FSC student Jason
McDonald.
Most college bookstores do
allow you to sell back books at
the end of the semester for cash
back. However, because a lot of
books come out with new edi-
tions, the used books aren't used
the next year and therefore cannot
be sold back.
Orientation leads the way to fun and friendships
Continued from Page 1
school, because of what the
school has given to me."
"Don't be afraid that you're
going to look weird or silly hang-
ing out with your orientation
group," said Jennifer Corrigan,
also an orientation leader this
year. "You will remember and
know most of those people for the
rest of your life."
Ashley, Amato, and Corrigan
all had the same advice for incom-
ing freshmen: to be involved in as
much as they can, starting with
orientation.
A complete schedule of ori-
entation activities and events can
be found on the college website,
www.fsc.edu.
Highlights include:
Aug. 3 1 - First Night activities
on the Quad from 8:30 p.m. to
midnight
Sept. 1 - New Student Convo-
cation from 10 to 10:30 a.m. in
Weston
Sept. 2 - Rotating Interest Ses-
sions on topics including Taste
of Fitchburg, Financial Fitness,
Building an Online Portfolio, and
Life as a Commuter, from 9:15
a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Mara project
leaves some
room for relief
By Garett Langer
and Phil Trudel
When the new addition to
Mara Village opens in fall
2009, it will add 125 beds to
the residential complex - and
draw a sigh of relief from
students who have had panic
attacks over where they were
going to end up with on-cam-
pus housing.
It was only a year ago, in
2007, that a new housing poli-
cy was enacted that stated that
any student who had earned
100 credits or more would
not be eligible for on-campus
housing.
"That act was terrifying,"
said Fitchburg State College
student Tiffany Begin.
"When I was a sophomore
and I heard that, I was think-
ing to myself, 'That's how
they're going to treat their
seniors? Throwing them off
campus?'"
As of the 2008 school year,
the act was repealed and is no
longer in effect.
Building and renovation
plans, however, are still in
effect and going strong.
The new Mara buildings
boast three new complex-
es, all with interconnecting
hallways that make for easy
access to neighboring build-
ings and facilities.
The blueprints have a sim-
ilar design to the "classic"
Mara buildings, but will be
updated in interior design and
capacity.
"It's nice that they decided
to build more Maras," said
FSC student Dana Volke.
"Mara is probably the
greener side of campus and
it's good that housing options
over there are going to be
more accessible."
However, with all the
advantages the new Mara
buildings will bring to the
college, there have been short-
term disadvantages.
"As early as 7 in the morn-
ing they start making noise
and wake me up," Rob Bar-
tolome of Mara 6 said last
semester.
"Even with the windows
closed, I still wake up every
day they work on the new
Maras."
FSC FILE PHOTO
Students find places to gather and relax in the green areas
around Mara Village.
Campus Police mobilize against DUI
Campus Police officers
are participating in a state-
wide mobilization called
"Drunk Driving, Over the
Limit, Under Arrest," through
Sept. 3. The Executive Office
of Public Safety and Secu-
rity has provided $725,000 in
federal grant funding for this
effort to reduce the number
of alcohol-related crashes on
Massachusetts roads.
4 - August 29, 2008
THE POINT
•t" m
S/ITCUBVRG STATE COLLEGE
</o
September 26 and 27
Friday, Sept. 26
family Weekend Parade
7 p.m.
I'V'cstoH parking lot at 6:i5 p.m.
This Year's Theme: Once Upon a Time
The parade features bands, floats and antique
cars. Students, faculty, staff and families are
encouraged to participate. Parade Route:
Starting on North Street in front of Weston
Auditorium, taking rights on Ross Street,
Highland Avenue, and Pearl Street, then all
the way up North Street, ending at the Civic
Center parking lot and Coolidge Park in time
for the fireworks.
flnnual f irszworks display
Coolidge Park
Join the festivities
immediately following the parade as we continue
the weekend with a fireworks display set to music!
"6nchanted" ©rive-In Movie S:30 p.m.
I Outside oj the Landry Ice Rink
After the fireworks, relax on a blanket with the
large screen drive-in movie showing of Disney's
"Enchanted."
Saturday, Sept. 27
Tailgate Isuneh
Elliot Field [rain location h Dining Commons)
Parents, students and guests: Free with ticket
8 P.M.
H fLM.-1:30 p.m.
f§C football
vs. framingham ebtate College 1:30 p.m.
Elliot Field
Students and Family: Free with One Card and
ticket
General Public: $5
fun fair
n fi.M.-3 p.m.
Elliot Field
Student clubs and organizations will be hosting a variety of
fundraising booths with giveaways and activities like picture mugs,
spin art Frisbees, pony rides, balloon animals, food and more.
flutumn Buffet 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Holmes Dininij Commons
Parents, families and guests are invited to join Fitchburg State's faculty
and staff for music, entertainment and dinner. Admission is $8.50 per
person (free for students on the meal plan). Pay
by check with registration form or pay by cash or
check at the door.
Women's §oeeer
vs. <§>alero i>tate College
Elliot Field
Parents, students and guests: Free
6 P.M.
The Magic of Mike Super 8 p.m.
Weston Auditorium
Tickets: Fitchburg State students with One Card $7
Family, faculty/staff and alumni $ 1 0
General public and all tickets at the door $15
The Magie of Mike §uper
Mike Super's Magic & Illusion
Production is the industry's
one stop for absolute
entertainment! The moment
Mike appears on stage,
the audience is captivated.
Mike takes the venue and
transforms it into a gateway
for your imagination, thus
creating a totally
interactive magic
experience.
The audience
literally takes part in
the show first hand!
Mike will make an audience member levitate 4 and a half feet
off the ground with absolutely no connections of any kind.
He will control the elements and make it snow from his bare
hands. Mike will physically fold a spectator so small they fit
into a Japanese show box! He breathes life into a piece of
paper and it actually dances in a total stranger's hands — and
that's only 10 minutes into the show!
Mike Super has created a show that becomes one highly
anticipated event guaranteed to bring the audience to their feet!
Imagine how great you'll look by not only bringing in a show with
universal appeal, but a show that features digital music, side-splitting
comedy, amazing lighting, and unbelievable magic and illusion — all
totally immersed in audience participation!
Opening ftet:
©ale K: Seriously funny Hypnosis <§>how
When you attend one of Dale K's
performances, there's anticipation in
the air before the curtain even opens.
After an informative explanation of
what you are about to see, Dale K fills
the stage with willing volunteers from
the audience. Using simple relaxation
techniques, Dale K eliminates any
and all stage fright that the volunteers
may have. In fact, they become so
relaxed that they appear to be in a
completely deep sleep.
Although their eyes are shut and
bodies relaxed the volunteers are wide
awake with open imaginations. It's
at this point that Dale K introduces the "power of suggestion" in an
always humorous and unconventional manner. His suggestions allow
the volunteers to unleash hidden confidence and talents that propel
them into the spotlight for the entire show.
Kan
THE POINT
August 29, 2008 ~ 5
S lAFh PHOTO BY NlCOUITA AMATO
College knowledge: Just toss that Tupper-
ware in the trash, and no one will accuse
you of leaving dirty dishes in the sink.
You know
you're
in college
when ...
1 . Ramen becomes a staple in your diet.
2. You are allowed to have a George Fore-
man grill but not a toaster.
3. Weekends start on Thursdays.
4. Six in the morning is when you go to
sleep, not when you wake up.
5. You know how late fast-food restaurants
are open and which ones have 24-hour
service.
6. You obsessively log in to Facebook or
MySpace.
7. Quarters are a prized possession.
8. You instant message your roommate
from a few feet away.
9. Your idea of a square meal is a box of
Pop-Tarts.
1 0. You throw out Tupperware because you
don't feel like washing it.
1 1 . You wear flip flops in the shower.
12. You skip a class to write a paper for
another one.
13. Bicycles and skateboards are cool again
because you can't afford gas.
14. You have paid the same amount for
books as you have for tuition, then returned
the books unused for the price of a candy
bar.
15. You have the local pizza-delivery num-
bers programmed into your cell phone, as
well as the Rejection Hotline and Campus
Police.
16. Checking people's away messages
becomes a hobby.
17. You only do the laundry when your
closet is empty.
18. You have at least one roadside decora-
tion in your room, such as a road cone or
street sign.
19. You get more damage bills in the mail
than care packages.
20. You spend five or more minutes waiting
for the elevator just so you don't have to
climb the stairs.
- Sarah Taylor
Mars Volta: Out of this world
By Tom Rlbendall
When first listening to the Mars Volta's
2008 release, "The Bedlam in Goliath,"
one cannot help but feel completely over-
whelmed. Once again, the progressive-
rock band has pushed the envelope to an
entirely new level.
And local fans will have a chance to
explore that new level along with the
Mars Volta on Sept. 14, when the band's
tour in support of this new CD comes to
the Sun Orpheum Theater in Boston.
The CD itself wastes no time getting
down to business with the first track,
"Aberinkula."
Cedric Bixler-Zavala comes in imme-
diately with his signature high-pitched
wail, backed by an intense bass scale,
pounding percussion and the sonic,
effect-ridden guitar stylings of the band's
mastermind, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez.
Rodriguez-Lopez apparently
had intensity in mind for this album,
because "Goliath" does not let up. After
"Aberinkula" finishes with an anthemic
guitar riff, "Metatron" begins without a
moment's notice and continues for over
eight minutes of groovy, distorted bass
with a Spanish zest.
"Hyena" follows as one of the lighter
(in terms of mood) songs on the CD, but
really showcases the speed and talent of
The Mars Volta's new drummer, Thomas
Pridgen. His non-stop sticking and intri-
cate fills flirt marvelously with Juan
Alderete's funky bass lines, making this
album clearly their drum-and-bass album
in comparison to their past studio albums:
"De-Loused in the Comatorium," "Fran-
ces the Mute" and "Amputechture."
The intensity rolls on with the short
but powerful single "Wax Simulacra."
This is where vocalist Bixler-Zavala puts
Geddy Lee to shame with his calculated
shrill cries, beautifully orchestrated with
Southern horns and even at times dual-
tracked, uncommon for the band.
The fifth track is named for Goliath
and features some of their best work
ever: rock organ tones, mind-bending
guitar solos and more intricate bass and
drum play.
"Tourniquet Man," the slowest and
least interesting song on the CD, is also
the shortest, clocking in at 2:38.
But wasting only those two and a half
minutes, the band jumps right back into
hyper speed with "Calvettas" and then
the most unusual piece on the album,
"Agadez." Once again, it starts with the
drum and bass locked in a creepy groove
backed with electronics. Soon Bixler-
Zavala comes in with more finely crafted
linguistic puzzles:
I should have known
You'd always scratch that itch
When you asked me for safe passage
On my shoulders where we slid
And just before you laid
Dead weight upon its shores
I stung you in the face
For that's the nature of my core
The Mars Volta is set to play Sept. 14 at the Sun Orpheum Theater in Boston.
The song continues with two
more movements, one with more Span-
ish flair and African percussion, and then
the band moves back to their roots with a
hardcore-punk ending.
The next song, "Askepios," builds
and falls and builds and falls with an
eerie tension to it, highlighted by more of
Bixler-Zavala's ear-piercing vocals.
"Ouroboros," the 10tn track, is by
far the heaviest song the band has ever
produced. Distorted, palm-muted guitars
climb high and low alongside the bass
line while Bixler-Zavala actually brings
his voice to a masculine level, only to
be brought back up high for the catchy
chorus, and then even higher for the
extremely trippy breakdown.
The song ends with mellow keyboards
which lead into the epic masterpiece,
"Soothsayer."
The song opens with Middle East-
ern-sounding string instruments. Upon
entrance of Rodriguez-Lopez's guitars,
the listener may experience a synthetic
acid trip. Somehow, the guitar manages
to sound similar to a sitar plugged into
a wah pedal being rocked back and forth
erratically.
"Soothsayer," meaning "one who pre-
dicts future events based on personal
beliefs instead of common reasoning,"
is the pinnacle of "The Bedlam in Goli-
ath"; all of the energy culminates here
and explodes with Bixler-Zavala's poetic
lyricism:
My love becomes a mange
dyeing autumn in its leaves
when it broke me in the branch
where my antlers come to feed
and I swam a hundred days
in the bosom of this filth
carry on this drought
as I tighten this belt
"The Bedlam in Goliath" was inspired
by a Ouija board that Rodriguez-Lopez
found in Jerusalem and gave to Bixler-
Zavala as a gift. The board, which they
called "Soothsayer," allowed three differ-
ent entities, collectively known as Goli-
ath, to communicate with the band. Goli-
ath is supposedly responsible for many of
the lyrics on the final track of the album,
"Conjugal Burns."
During touring and writing the new
album, strange things began to happen to
the band including injuries, loss of band
members, disappearance of recorded
material, the flooding of the studio and
the mental breakdown of the band's engi-
neer, who held the band's studio hostage
claiming, "You're trying to do something
very bad with this record ..." The band
attributed these misfortunes to the talking
board and thus buried it in an undisclosed
location.
"The Bedlam in Goliath" was
released on both CD and on a limited-
edition USB drive shaped as a Ouija
planchette. The CD is well worth your
cash, running just over 75 minutes in
length and boasting talented musicians
including John Frusciante of the Red Hot
Chili Peppers.
Don't miss this psychedelic rock
movement!
Scholarship helps student build toward the future
Fitchburg State College student Sean
R. Cruise, of Lakeville, was named the
2008 Daniel A. Mahoney Scholarship
recipient during a recent presentation at
the college.
J.M. Coull, Inc. President Andrew
Coull, and Fitchburg State alumnus and
current Coull project manager Mark
Moschella presented Cruise with the
$1,000 scholarship.
Named for a longtime employee of
J.M. Coull who exemplified profession-
alism in construction management, the
Daniel A. Mahoney Scholarship will be
given each year for five years to a quali-
fied industrial technology/construction
technology junior-year student. Coull,
based in Maynard, offers construction
management, design/build, and general
contracting services.
"Sean's outstanding academics and
professional skills exemplify the caliber
of students in our program," said James
Andrews, associate professor of indus-
trial technology.
"This scholarship further solidifies our
relationship with J.M. Coull and helps us
in our mission of supporting construction
technology professionals at Fitchburg
State."
6 ~ August 29, 2008
THE POINT
Moviegoers can't count on '21'
By Leanne Belgiorno
With rising tuition and the
student-loan crisis in the news,
how is a student to pay for higher
education?
Columbia Pictures "21" has a
suggestion: Go to Las Vegas and
win big in blackjack.
That's the premise of this PG-
rated film, which was released
just last month on DVD.
It stars Jim Sturgess as Ben
Campbell, a working-class Mas-
sachusetts Institute of Technology
student who has been accepted to
Harvard Medical School but needs
to raise $300,000 for tuition.
Campbell and a group of his
fellow MIT students - recruited
and led by their math professor,
Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) -
learn to beat the casino odds with
card-counting. The group travels
to Las Vegas on the weekends and
cheats the casino's system. Even-
tually, Campbell's growing greed
and arrogance draw the attention
of Cole Williams (Laurence Fish-
burne), a casino-security special-
ist who is determined to stop the
group.
This movie was very disap-
pointing, especially if you have
read the book "Bringing Down
the House: The Inside Story of Six
MIT Students Who Took Vegas
for Millions," by Ben Mezrich.
The movie used only one scene
When the chips are down, Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) turns to blackjack to earn his Harvard tuition.
from the original story: the "test
run." In this scene, the group
brings Campbell to an alleyway
to test his new skills. Beyond that
scene, the movie detaches itself
from the book with a series of
small but discouraging changes.
The book offered a very easy
story to adapt to a movie, and yet
they did not use it to its. fullest
extent.
The actors in "21" were not
used to their fullest extent, either.
Spacey and Fishburne, two
extremely seasoned and proven
actors, basically play themselves.
There were not any tweaks to their
roles or certain characteristics that
made the characters stand out.
The pacing of the 123 -minute
movie was also very distracting.
While some scenes were excruci-
atingly long, others were far too
short. For example, when Camp-
bell was deciding whether to join
the group or not, there was not
enough exposition to convince
the audience of his decision. This
section of the movie should have
stretched further on, rather than
being cut down into a few short
scenes.
The narration was far too in-
depth for the movie. Rather than
allowing the actions of the char-
acters to show the story, it simply
told the audience what was hap-
pening. For example, at one point
Campbell is standing on a balcony
looking discouraged; the narra-
tion literally says, "I was sad."
This was unnecessary and took
away from the scene.
The movie's soundtrack was
also very disappointing. It con-
sisted of dated songs that were
never truly in tune with the tone
of the scenes. These songs were
used in a series of bad montages
that would stop for a minute to tell
a joke and then start up again.
The ending was also very cli-
che and predictable, to the point
where halfway through the movie
you have guessed the twist.
All and all, "21" was a dis-
appointing movie with mistakes
too blunt and easily fixed to be
forgivable.
Who could resist
this new
'Morton' DVD?
By Lauren Greally
Dr. Seuss' "Horton Hears a
Who" was a childhood favorite,
and now, about 15 years since I
had first read the book, I still love
the story.
The animated movie version,
which came out just last month on
DVD, offers a great example of
how a childhood story can stand
the test of time and still entertain
a college student.
Screenwriters Ken Daurio and
Cinco Paul stay true to the 1954
Seuss classic, and 20* Century
Fox Animation brings it to life
with the same flashy and outra-
geous colors Seuss was famous
for.
Jim Carrey lends his talents
to voice Horton, the lovable ele-
phant. His interaction with Steve
Carell, the voice of The Mayor of
Whoville, makes for very come-
dic conversations.
Wisecracks start right from the
introductions, when the Mayor
of Whoville tells Horton that he
"You just take
care of that
meatball, sir,
and leave the
freaking out
to me. '
Horton
has 96 daughters and one son,
at which Horton laughs, "Whoa!
Busy guy!"
Teamwork is on the agenda,
as well.
For example, when the Mayor
of Whoville says, "Listen, Horton,
I've gotta go. Apparently there's a
problem with a giant meatball,"
Horton jumps right in to help. He
tells the mayor, "You just take
care of that meatball, sir, and
leave the freaking out to me."
Directors Jimmy Hayward and
'Horton Hears a Who ' shares the timeless message of Dr. Seuss ' classic tale.
Steve Martino guide the other
voices, including Carol Burnett,
Will Arnet, Seth Rogen, Dan
Fogler, Isla Fisher, Jonah Hill,
Jesse McCartney, Jaime Pressly,
Amy Poehler, and Joey King (the
voice of my favorite character,
Katie) just to name a few.
In the movie, Horton, in the
Jungle of Nool, hears something
on a speck.
He increasingly becomes
obsessed with finding out what
this speck is and why there are
people on it, so he protects it from
his neighbors.
No one else believes that
Horton hears something on that
speck, so he tries to get it to a
safe place.
Horton goes through obstacles
set forth by Kangaroo (she wants
the speck destroyed), until the res-
idents of Whoville are heard and
Horton's faithfulness is rewarded.
In the end, as the narrator
expains, Horton teaches us all an
important lesson: "A person is a
person, no matter how small."
"Horton Hears a Who" gets a
big thumbs-up.
It's rated G, and it really is a
movie for all ages.
THE POINT
August 29, 2008 ~ 7
Game may
ust feel
:oo real
By Robert Bartolome
To the disgust of many protesters, com-
munities, and even states, Grand Theft
Auto IV became an instant blockbuster
when it was released in May. with sales
above S500 million worldwide in the first
week alone.
Just as the entire franchise has done,
the game stretches boundaries and breaks
just about every moral written. It has been
banned in several countries, including Thai-
land, where earlier this month a teenage
gamer killed a man while acting out one of
GTA's carjacking scenes - the teen said he
wanted to see how it felt in real life.
And in fact, as I played this most recent
installment of Grand Theft Auto, I wa->
often left with the question, "Is this too
real?"
I step off the sidewalk and begin cross-
ing the street when a beat-up, Honda-esque
car slams into me, knocking me onto the
ground. Niko, the main character that I
control, slowly stumbles to his feet as the
driver of the car, a young blond woman,
runs over to help,
Street crime seems to take on a life of its own in Grand Theft Auto IV.
taking off and landing at the Liberty City
airport. The entire experience is more real
than any virtual city ever created.
Each citizen of Liberty City walks with
a destination in mind, and in many cases
I've witnessed funny or action-packed
moments while simply standing around and
screaming. With-
out hesitation, a
pistol is pulled
out and fires one
round into her
chest. She falls
instantly to the
ground, dead.
This is nor-
mal activity for
all of the games
in the series, and
similar events take place during about 80
percent of gameplay. However, this time it
made me feel a little different.
Seeing the woman's body fall to the
ground actually made me feel . . . bad.
This is partially due to the game's incred-
ible graphics design. The streets teem with
realistic-looking people and cars; buildings
reflect sunlight, casting shadows every-
where; in the distance, planes can be seen
The streets teem with realistic-looking people and cars;
buildings reflect sunlight, casting shadows everywhere;
in the distance, planes can be seen taking off and
landing at the Liberty City airport. The entire
experience is more real than any
virtual city ever created.
watching passersby. Once, for example, I
watched a man pick a fight with someone
who bumped into him, and eventually get
chased down and arrested by a nearby cop.
I've witnessed minor automobile acci-
dents that have fueled major arguments.
I've even seen people sitting on park bench-
es, waiting for someone to meet them. The
city lives and breathes, really creating the
impression that you are merely one person
on an island of thousands.
Rockstar, the creator of the GTA fran-
chise, always makes a point of licensing the
best selection of music available, to supply
the radio stations in the game. This could
be the best soundtrack yet, mixing genres
like classic rock, alternative, reggae, reg-
gaeton, and hip-
hop to make up
over 150 songs.
One of the
most interest-
ing things comes
out of Rockstar 's
new collabora-
tion with Ama-
zon.com. When
you hear a song
on the radio, you
dial a number on
your in-game cell phone, and within a
few seconds you receive a text telling you
the name of the track and the artist. All
you need to do is go to Amazon's special
GTAIV Download Store, and the song is
waiting for you. It's both easy and quick,
and has already stolen quite a few dollars
from me.
Details such as that add a lot to the
experience, but the real magic lies in the
gameplay and story.
At the start of the game, Niko Bellic
lands in Liberty City on a boat, and you
immediately take control. From then on,
it is up to you to rise up the career ladder
of success - illegally. You meet an eclectic
cast of characters and face many choices
that affect the outcome of the game.
The controls are about the same as pre-
vious titles, simple and fun, but they have
improved a lot of issues. For example, the
targeting system is much more developed
and allows for a better gun-aiming experi-
ence. There are also some added controls,
such as the ability to pick up pieces of gar-
bage on the ground - cans, bottles, bricks
- and throw them.
The most surprising addition is the
option to turn a vehicle's high beams on
and off. It proves absolutely pointless in
the long-run, but it is really a lot of fun to
flash cops as they drive by.
All in all, the Grand Theft Auto IV
proves to be one of the top games of 2008,
with amazing graphics, fun gameplay, a
great soundtrack, and a well-crafted story.
As long as you can move past all of the
moral objections you might get from the
realism of the game, it is entertainment at
its finest!
Knights shine at college
By Joe Whitney
With classes, exams, jobs,
internships, clubs, sports, and
active social lives, college stu-
dents have plenty to keep them
busy. Yet some feel the need to
do even more, to help others as
well as themselves.
For Fitchburg State College
student Pat Hegarty, the need
to make a difference has led
to membership in the Knights
of Columbus. Hegarty believes
firmly in the values the Knights
advocate: "charity, unity, frater-
nity and patriotism."
In terms of charity, "The
Knights do a lot for the commu-
nity, such as collecting dona-
tions for special-needs chil-
dren," Hegarty said.
Unity and fraternity? With
1.7 million members, the
Knights of Columbus is the
world's largest Roman Catho-
lic fraternal-service organiza-
tion, and Hegarty said the bond
between the Knights is very
strong. "There is a great broth-
erhood among the Knights," he
said. "You feel like you're a
part of something special."
Patriotism? Knights volun-
teer in veterans' hospitals and
organize programs, such as
Treats for Troops, to support
and show gratitude to the mili-
tary.
Yet for all that the members
do, Hegarty said, the Knights of
Columbus organization does not
require a great sacrifice. "Time
is really the only thing you have
to give up," said Hegarty.
And, he said, joining will
not take huge chunks from your
schedule: "Meetings take place
about twice a month, and usu-
ally only last roughly 30 min-
utes," Hegarty said.
How does someone get his
foot into a meeting? Member-
ship is open to practicing Cath-
olic men over the age of 18.
Understanding and commit-
ting to the concept of the orga-
nization is key. "Your sponsor
will speak on your behalf at
the ceremony, saying that you
are a good candidate at the first
degree," points out Hegarty.
The Knights seem to run
in the Hegarty family. Terry
Hegarty, Pat's older brother,
joined the organization first.
"I joined to become more
involved in service projects,"
said Terry Hegarty. "I think the
biggest reward is the fraternity,
and getting to know a lot of dif-
ferent people."
No hospitality for teens?
By Kate Rouleau
Cassandra Ilfeld, a 19-year old-
student at Fitchburg State Col-
lege, wasn't expecting any trouble
when she planned a trip to Wash-
ington, D.C. She booked her flight
with no problem, and then went
online to book a hotel room.
Ilfeld found an inexpensive
hotel that satisfied all her needs.
But when she went to book the
room on Hotwire.com, she read
the following: "Primary guest
must be at least 21 years old
and present at check-in. The hotel
will require a valid credit card in
the primary guest's name. The
credit card must include available
credit for incidental expenses.
Debit/check cards are not typi-
cally accepted."
In speaking with friends, Ilfeld
found that others had noticed this
policy, too - and were equally baf-
fled by it. Why, they wondered, is
it OK for college students under
21 to buy cigarettes, drive, and
even fight in a war, but not to
book a hotel room?
When asked this question, a
Hotwire customer-service repre-
sentative had only one answer:
"You have to be an adult or be
accompanied by an adult."
The American Civil Liberties
Union addressed this issue back
in 2004, according to its website,
when it "filed an age-discrimina-
tion lawsuit against a Detroit hotel
that refused to rent a room to a
20-year-old Army Reservist and
his 1 8-year-old girlfriend because
they were too young."
Yet the practice persists, and
travelers under 21 are left to read
the find print.
Not all online booking services
have these restrictions. To book
with Expedia.com, a person needs
to be 17 or older; with Travelocity.
com, there is no age limit listed.
Individual hotels' policies vary,
too, so it's a good idea to make
sure there's no 21 -plus policy.
8 ~ August 29, 2008
THE POINT
FSC education leads to Emmy nomination
Fitchburg State College alumna Melanie
Perkins has received an Emmy nomination
for her 2007 documentary "Have You Seen
Andy?"
"It was wonderful news. It brought
sense of justice in Andy's case," said Per-
kins, '91, who studied communications
media at FSC. She is a 1984 Ayer High
School graduate.
"Have You Seen Andy?" is up for the
News & Documentary Emmy Award for
Outstanding Investigative Journalism -
Long Form. Other nominees in the cat-
egory include an MSNBC investigation
"Mississippi Cold Case"; and the Oxygen
channel's "Slave Girls of India" with cor-
respondent Lisa Ling. The awards will be
presented in a ceremony on Sept. 22 in
New York City.
Perkins screened the film last year at
Fitchburg State and in her hometown of
Lawrence. She said her studies at FSC built
a foundation for her film career. In fact,
when Perkins found out about the Emmy
nomination, she sent an e-mail announce-
ment to a long list of people, including her
former professor George Bohrer.
"The education there really set the
groundwork for me being able to accom-
plish what I have. Faculty helped you learn
about the equipment and you had access
to make a film right away," Perkins said.
"They just put a camera in your hand and
said, 'Go do it.' There wasn't a question
about what anyone was capable of. They
taught me that if you could put your mind
to it, you could do anything."
The film, released in 2007 on HBO, is
the personal story of a childhood friend-
ship abruptly ended by abduction. One day
in August 1976, 10-year-old Andy Puglisi
was playing at the Higgins Memorial Pool
in Lawrence. Then suddenly, he disap-
peared. Twenty-two years later, filmmaker
Melanie Perkins, Andy's childhood friend,
began her search for answers.
Perkins' "Have You Seen Andy?" uncov-
ers new information about the unsolved
disappearance and the initial police investi-
gation. The filmmaker's persistence forces
the police to re-open the investigation after
more than 20 years. As a child who grew up
with Andy's family and friends, Perkins has
privileged access to the people who knew
Andy best. "Have You Seen Andy?" brings
the viewer inside this unsolved case.
Capt. Anna Morgan, MD
JBrooke Army
Medical Center, Texas
■i; \f if :Z
M
a
f .V.
■
i K^Blf m
• in i
EARN YOUR DEGREE,
THE RESPECT OF YOUR PEERS AND
MORE THAN $1,600 PER MONTH.
Students accepted into an accredited medical or dental school are
eligible for our Medical and Dental School Stipend Program. In addition
to more than $1f600 per month for living expenses, MDSSP gives
you a head start on your career. Your Army Reserve training provides
invaluable experience alongside outstanding medical professionals and
a major advantage over your peers. Most importantly, as a member
of the U.S. Army Health Care Team, you'll earn the gratitude of our
Soldiers, their Families and your nation.
Gain your Strength to Heal. Contact
Bradley Paxton at 888-258-1098 or
bradley.paxton@usarec.army.mil. For more
information, visit healthcare.goarmy.com.
©2007. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved.
I U.S.ARMY
ARMY STRONG.